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InfiniteT's stats
- Review count34
- Helpfulness votes572
- First reviewDecember 21, 2008
- Last reviewDecember 20, 2014
- Featured reviews0
- Average rating4.6
- Review comment count6
- Helpfulness votes4
- First review commentJune 27, 2011
- Last review commentAugust 20, 2014
- Featured review comments0
Questions
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- Answer count3
- Helpfulness votes2
- First answerFebruary 22, 2010
- Last answerDecember 20, 2014
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- Best answers1
This Manfrotto PIXI MTPIXI-B tripod features a push button mechanism to enable simple adjustment of the ball head. Rubber feet provide stability on a variety of surfaces.
Customer Rating
5
VERY sturdy little tripod!
on December 20, 2014
Posted by: InfiniteT
from Seattle
I needed a compact tripod to use for table top macro shooting, table top video, and the occasional timer shot group pictures at family events and the like. This little sucker fits the bill perfectly. it is so compact you could actually stick it folded up in your back pocket. it does everything i need out of a compact tripod and comes in handy in so many situations. I was a little concerned at first about how sturdy it would be, but this little guy holds up my Canon 70D loaded with a 70-300mm f4-5.6L lens (yes the big heavy all metal "L") without any problem. I even slapped the Yongnuo YN568EX II speedlight on and it still had no problem
If you are looking for a compact tripod for a compact digital camera. this bad boy will do perfectly. If you have an entry level DSLR with a kit lens, PFFTT, No problem! If you have a "prosumer level" DSLR with a mid sized Professional telephoto lens, you're still fine.
On sale for $20 at the holidays,it was a NO BRAINER, and even at full price, its still well worth it!
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR Camera with 18–55mm Lens: Capture your next masterpiece with this Canon Rebel T3i, an easy-to-use compact DSLR that boasts plenty of features. The DIGIC 4 Image Processor and 18.0-megapixel CMOS Image Sensor provide optimal performance for superb still shots, while Full HD recording delivers incredible performance when shooting video. No matter your experience with DSLR cameras, the multitude of features and ease of operation gives you more creative options.Memory card sold separately.
Customer Rating
5
GREAT entry level DSLR
on August 20, 2014
Posted by: InfiniteT
from Seattle
This is my first DSLR camera so I dont have any others to compare it to. This being said, the price point makes it a great first choice.
I have always wanted to get in to photography. Pre- digital, it was just too dang complicated,not to mention expensive for me to get interested enough to drop big bucks on a camera, then sink a bunch of money into film and development and such. But with digital, its nearly endless and fairly cheap to play around and shoot to your hearts desire. All you have to do with the picture that dont turn out is delete them.
So, back to the camera. I bought one of these with the 18-55mm lens on sale. After flipping through the manual, I was completely confused. I understood shutter speed, but thats about it. What the heck was ISO and F stop? I found a really handy online guide (Google ATP DSLR guide). Within a few hours of reading the guide and screwing around, i was pretty dialed in. I have taken the camera out several times now and am getting to the point where i can take a picture, then look at it at home and think, "Wow, I took THAT?!"
This camera takes great pictures with crisp clear edges, full vibrant colours, and has enough features to really have some fun with making some creative shots, You have to try long exposure water fall and night time traffic shots. It takes great macro, portrait, landscape, nighscape pictures. Once you learn how F stops, ISO and shutter speeds work, it take good low light shots too. I have yet to find something I cant do with this camera. Adding a good telephoto lens, and maybe the f1.4 50mm lens to your set up, a tripod, some UV and polarizers, and maybe a remote shutter release/timer and you will be well armed to go out in the world and shoot anything and everything that captures your eye like a pro and all for under $1000 (for the set up I mentioned, even check reputable used sources to save more!)
I am really loving having a camera of this calibre. Even the feel or drilling in on your "target" and the snap of a REAL shutter nearly matches the "Holy Cow" feeling when you see your first (and ever after) pro looking shot pop up on your HD computer screen.
Keep in mind it is bigger, and heavier than your normal point and shoot, but if you want a nicely featured camera with swapible lenses, this is a great set to get your feet wet. If you only want to have a camera to have in your pocket/purse to whip out and snap a quick shot here and there without need for multiple lenses or more advance fiddling, check out a nice compact P&S like the SX510.
What's great about it: Crisp clear pictures and many of the most useful features.
I would recommend this to a friend!
Other Best Buy Products I Recommend
Canon - PowerShot SX510 HS 12.1-Megapixel Digital Camera - Black
(330)Picture Quality
5
Ease of Use
5
Features
5
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Players have been going on daring adventures with Link for more than two decades. An instant classic, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the Super NES, introduced gamers to a storyline that has been rejuvenated with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds. With new features and an enhanced look, you'll love embarking on a new journey with Link.Link is setting off on another adventure in Hyrule, but this time he has some new abilities under his belt. Transform into a "drawing" and move along the walls of dungeons, so you can explore locations Link could never reach before and open up new puzzle elements for thrilling gameplay challenges. The amazing visuals and 60 frames per second transform the 2D world and enhance it with elevation and depth for an experience the reinvents the classic. The 3DS also allows more freedom with customized settings — just touch and drag items from the item window and switch them with what are assigned to the X and Y buttons.
Customer Rating
5
Handheld Zelda Perfection
on February 24, 2014
Posted by: InfiniteT
from Seattle
Age:35-44
Gender:Male
I'll admit it, I am a Zelda geek (no, I dont have Zelda pajamas or tattoos or anything) but I have played, and finished most of the Zelda games (handheld and console).
This game was THE reason i bought a 3DS (the LBW bundle), although, not the only reason I keep it.
This game is set in the Link to the Past (SNES) world. So the overworld is very similar. This did feel a bit lazy of Nintendo to me, but it makes sense because chronologically it takes place right after LttP. But the graphics and music is fresh, updated and beautiful.
At first, the story seemed a little bit... awkward to me. But as it started to develop, it became much better and has a cool surprise at the end. The primary feature, where Link can become a painting and merge with the wall, really is a unique idea and with the 3D, opens up a whole new dimension of play and puzzles. For example, merging with a wall to bypass obstacles, or switches and objects at different heights (3D).
The puzzles and boss fights are very unique and fun, but felt just a tad too simple to figure out, although, still satisfying.
This is easily the BEST handheld Zelda game to date, and certainly stands as another shining jewel in the Zelda franchise and gaming as a whole.
If you like Zelda games, you will love it. If you are new to Zelda, this is a great entry and a perfect example of Zelda games. If you have never been a fan of adventure, exploration, puzzle games, this may just change your mind
What's great about it: Great new dimension with a classic feel
What's not so great: A tad to short/easy.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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One of the most critically acclaimed titles ever made returns, this time with the stunning realism of glasses-free 3D visuals. In The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Link embarks on a heroic adventure through time to prevent Ganondorf from seizing the ultimate power granted by the Triforce. Solve puzzles, travel through the expansive land of Hyrule and more as you explore this immersive world on your epic quest. Will you be able to put a stop to the Gerudo King of Thieves before he can reach this holy relic?The Nintendo 64 classic, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, returns with amazing 3D visuals and a compete graphical overhaul to bring Hyrule to life. Explore the immersive world, solve puzzles, travel through time and more on your adventure to stop Ganondorf from seeking the Triforce, a holy relic that grants its holder ultimate power. Retaining the analog control of the original with the 3DS' Circle Pad, Ocarina of Time 3D improves the ease of use with a touch-based inventory system for swift and simple item switching. Use the 3DS' gyro sensor to take advantage of the camera-controlled first-person shooting. Revamped for the 3DS, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D provides a brand-new adventure whether you're a first-time visitor to Hyrule or a regular denizen of the legendary world.
Customer Rating
5
Wonderful remake of the Best Zelda game
on February 24, 2014
Posted by: InfiniteT
from Seattle
Age:35-44
Gender:Male
As a teen, I played the HECK out of OoT on the N64. In fact, I've gone back and replayed it every few years since.
In this remake they have gone back and redone the graphics. Characters have shading and lighting effects on them that really adds to the immersion in the game. Gone are the overly harsh polygon features on your favorite characters. The dungeons and overworld just look so much smoother and the added lighting effects are great.
All the great puzzles, secrets and game play are there. The sound has been improved (although music still has that midi sound).
If you loved OoT on the 64, or are experiencing OoT for the first time, IMHO, this is THE BEST Zelda game yet, made better. The only way this could be any better is if it were in HD like they did with Wind Waker.
What's great about it: Beautifully redone in every way!
What's not so great: Would be sweet in HD
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Nintendo 3DS XL (Black): The 3DS XL is your portable gateway into Nintendo's beloved game worlds, with screens that are 90% larger than those of the original 3DS to immerse you more fully in the games you play. It comes in a sleek, foldable design with a black exterior and black trim.Games are displayed in 3D on the unit's top screen without requiring special eyewear, so you'll feel as though you're peering into living, breathing game worlds. The bottom touch screen allows you to tap, swipe and draw your way through your in-game adventures with the included stylus. The 3DS also brings you a multifaceted photography suite so you can take photos in 3D, edit them and add some Nintendo charm.StreetPass and SpotPass connect your 3DS with other players and wireless hotspots, allowing you to partake in unique multiplayer experiences and get bonus content for several of the games you enjoy.
Customer Rating
5
Great Handheld
on February 24, 2014
Posted by: InfiniteT
from Seattle
Recently I purchased a 3DS XL Zelda bundle. I have not owned a handheld since the original Game Boy. So its been a while. I have however spend some time with the 3DS.
A Link Between Worlds is what encouraged me to buy one of these. That being said, the biggest plus to this system is the amount of quality games. There are hundreds of really good good games, and a large and growing back catalog of virtual console games. No matter what kind of game you are in to, or your age (kids to adults) you will find plenty to your liking.
The build quality is about what you would expect. It's an all plastic unit, but feels solid enough and comfortable to use. The controls on this thing are nice and tight and work well in all the games I've played, which is obviously very important. I really like the ability to download and store games on an SD card. This would allow you to store dozens of games on the card itself (it comes with 2gb, but you can add up to 32gb) and not have to carry around, and swap out a pile of games when on the go. The unit has built in wifi that works great for downloading and playing games online, and the street pass feature adds a cool new aspect to gaming. The speakers on the unit get the job done, but using headphones will sound a lot better. The 3D feature works just fine. It does add kind of a cool new aspect to your games, (especially ones made to take advantage of the added dimension of depth). The first few times it did kind of bug my eyes after an hour or so, but once I got used to it, it's just fine. Once you find the sweet spot for your eyes (using the depth slider) and distance from your eyes, its great. Sometimes you'll need to adjust the depth when switching games to avoid ghosting/blur.
Really the only gripe i could find is that for the price, the XL could have used a spec bump. Given that the Vita is light years ahead as far as features for the same price. (But few games..) On the 3DS, the 240p resolution was adequate (but not stunning) but on the XL's 90% larger screen size, the 240p becomes more of an issue. Though the game play is smooth (60 fps) and shading and lighting effects are good, the edges of objects and such are a bit jagged and slightly detract from the otherwise wonderfully done environments (I'm thinking Ocarina of Time 3D). I would really love to see this with a 480p or better screen, and maybe a slight processor/memory bump would speed up load times in the eStore and allow game play while downloading another game and drive a higher res. display. While we are at it maybe some kind of video output would be cool.
All and all, there is a reason that the 3Ds/XL is the most popular hand held too date! If you are looking for a handheld with TONS great games, players of any age will be more than happy with one of these.
What's great about it: Huge game library, great controls
What's not so great: XL could have used a spec bump
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Prepare your sea legs and get ready for swashbuckling adventures in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, which brings the beloved franchise to your Nintendo Wii U with thrilling new gameplay features and awe-inspiring, high-definition graphics. Your mission is an important one — Link must set out on the waters of the Great Sea to find his kidnapped sister, and only you can help him succeed. Get ready for intense action as you search for lost islands, battle mighty bosses, clash with formidable foes and seek out the legendary Triforce.Return to the timeless The Legend of Zelda series in its glorious return on the Nintendo Wii U console. Time is of the utmost importance and a new sail gives your ship more speed, so you'll cut through the waves to reach your destination faster. By taking advantage of the Wii U GamePad, you can easily manage your inventory and view maps, or even play the game exclusively on the GamePad when the TV is occupied. Snap in-game pictures and store them with an improved Pictograph and then post them on the Miiverse. Once you've received the Tingle Bottle item, you can connect with other players by posting comments to the Miiverse. Each comment or screen shot will wash up on other players' shores for message-in-a-bottle style communication. With a unique, toon-shaded art style and 1080p high-definition visuals, you'll soon be immersed in the game with heart-pounding excitement as you sail the seas on a daring rescue adventure.
Customer Rating
5
Honest review from a 25+ year Zelda fan
on October 7, 2013
Posted by: InfiniteT
from Seattle
Age:35-44
Gender:Male
I have been a fan of, and playing the Legend of Zelda games since I was a youngin' playing the original on my NES. I have always enjoyed the exploration, puzzle, follow the clue aspects of the games. The stories are always pretty well written and never felt half-...baked. I have played (and i mean PLAYED) Zelda 1,2, Links Awakening, Ocarina, Majora's, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword. I never had a Game Cube, so I missed Wind Waker, so It is all new to me.
Wind Waker is certainly a classic Zelda game in all regards. There is plenty to explore and quite a slew of secret passages, hidden treasures, and clues to follow and mysteries and puzzles to solve.
At first, I felt that the story was a little weak. Links sister gets kidnapped, as well as a bunch of other "pointy eared girls" by a giant bird and taken to a big spooky fortress... But the more I played it, the more the story unfolds, and the more I got into it. Although I have found the story more engaging, I still feel like some of the elements are a bit more "childish" (like "Tingle", a talking dragon boat), but this is coming from someone who is a bit older now than what I'm sure the target audience is. After the first few hours though, I was sucked in and had to smash every rock, talk to every person, and find every passage before I could move on... just like old times
I havent finished the game yet, but from what I have done (about half) is everything I would have expected it to be, with some surprises.
I understand that this is a remake of the 10 year old game for Game Cube, so I keep that in mind as I move to the more critical side of the review. Having played Ocarina (and Majora's) a LOT. I find a handful of the elements of Wind Waker "recycled" from those. Since this game and console was a step up from the N64 i would have expected the music and sound effects to be a step up too. Instead, many of the sound effects are exactly the same. Some of the music is exactly the same. All of the music still has that early 90's MIDI player sound to it. I find that the concept of the Wind Waker wand is quite similar to that of the Ocarina. Use the device, by directional pad, to play different songs that carry out important game functions. One is a flute, one a wand. Granted many Zelda games have a flute, but it is a flute, it plays music and does some important function. It feels like someone said, "I like the Ocarina idea, but, lets make it a wand this time"!
The graphics of the game are good, not what I would call revolutionary though and certainly not Wii U caliber. Granted this is a remake or a 10 year old game, which I would dock a point for maybe two if I had played the original. Yes they are HD, there are some cool lighting and shadow effects. The game graphics all have a hand drawn cartoon look to them. Yes the edges are razor sharp, but still hand drawn and cartoony looking. For example, the water is a sea of blue "ink" with black "sharpy pen" humps and peaks for waves. It is in no way transparent or realistic looking. It all fits the cartoony look and feel of the game just fine. Just makes me "feel" a bit more like I am playing a kids game. Add that to the character models, dialog, and story elements and it feels less mature to me than even Ocarina and MM did back when I was in my early 20s. I really enjoyed the more grown up look and feel of Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword and am REALLY looking forward to Zelda U (or whatever they are going to call the Wii U feature Zelda game) and hope the build on those elements.
Wind Waker is a great game, dont get me wrong. Even a mid 30's Zelda fan Like my self has thoroughly enjoyed playing it. Its right up there with all the rest. It is a worthy remake (after all it got me to buy a Wii U). There is plenty to be explored, plenty puzzles to crack and bosses to beat. All this makes it easy to look passed the less mature look and feel of the game and the handful of recycled sounds and concepts from the passed. There is just something that seems to lack the "epic" and "OMG" feeling some of the games before and certainly after it had.
If I could give it a 4 1/2, I would. But I think it is a great game that any Zelda fan of any age will enjoy and appreciate.
What's great about it: Classic Zelda fun, mystery, and exploration.
What's not so great: Some content seems a bit recycled from Ocarina.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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The advances of video games over the past two decades are impressive, to say the least. Crystal-clear graphics, immersive storylines, the introduction of online co-op gameplay — the differences are endless. But if you can remember sitting on the floor (close enough to hold the wired controller) around the TV with your buddies to play classic Nintendo games like Super Mario Brothers, Donkey Kong and the Legend of Zelda, then you'll always have a special place in your heart for the old-school games that came before all of these advances. They were, after all, the dawn of an era that has shaped the world today. Experience those moments of nostalgia in a new light with the impressive advances of today's video game technology through Nintendo Land. The fun and thrilling theme park of Nintendo Land is filled with 12 lively attractions modeled after beloved classics using unique and innovative gameplay made possible by the touch screen and intuitive capabilities of the versatile and ingenious Wii U GamePad. Steer Donkey Kong through a chaotic and precarious obstacle course with its motion control sensor. Take on armies of attacking ninjas in Takamura's Ninja Castle with a swipe of your finger across the touch screen. With the dynamic multiplayer mode allowing up to five players to participate, you and your friends will be able to play the same game while enjoying a completely different experience depending on whether you're controlling the GamePad. Chase your friends with an invisible ghost in Luigi's Ghost Mansion or battle ground-based players from an aerial gunship in Metroid Blast, all by utilizing the GamePad's innovative touch screen.
Customer Rating
4
A fun Multiplayer showcase for Wii U
on September 30, 2013
Posted by: InfiniteT
from Seattle
Age:35-44
Gender:Male
I loved my Wii, even though it played second fiddle to playing WoW on my PC. But within the last few years WoW has significantly declined and I turned back to my console. I finally upgraded to Wii U when the Zelda bundle came out. I snagged Nintendo Land while it was on sale so I could have something to play with others.
Nintendo Land has a "Theme Park" type layout that features portals to it's mini-games. That is what this game is about. It's not so much like the Wii Sports was (which I still love) at all. The mini-games are more in the classic nintendo game style, but smaller/shorter, bar a few co-op strategy and puzzle games.
These games vary in difficulty and "fun-ness" (obviously my opinion) but to a great job of showcasing the Wii U's unique features in a fun and creative way.
For example, in one game, you use the control pad to aim ninja stars to take out paper ninjas. Another game you tilt it to navigate a cart though a Donkey Kong themed maze and use buttons, and control pads to operate levers, switches and ramps. Blow into the controller (thats right) to activate propeller powered lifts all while tilting enough (but not too much) to roll your cart through the vertical maze.
So far, my favorite (and my wife's) is the Pikmin Adventure where you control Olimar and his Pikmin buddies through small, but creative and challenging levels to beat a boss. There are a few neat power ups to help out too.
There is a handful more games and I have tried them all. I got the game on sale and I'd say it was a good buy that adds a fun multi-player game to my collection. Though im not sure I would have been happy paying full price.
The game does have single player games, but not as fun playing alone. The game may be fun for adult groups, but not in the way Wii Sports is. I hope to see a game like that for Wii U soon.
What's great about it: Fun mini-games the showcase WI U's capabilities
What's not so great: Single player play isn't the best
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Nintendo Wii U Deluxe Set with The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker: The Wii U is Nintendo's most powerful console to date, introducing several innovative control features. The lightweight GamePad includes tablet-like functionality, with a touch screen that offers fingertip and stylus interaction and adds a second screen to your gaming experience.Some of the most beloved characters in gaming history reside exclusively on Nintendo-branded consoles, including Mario, Luigi, Princess Peach, Princess Zelda, Link, Donkey Kong, Samus and more. With the Wii U, all of these characters and the worlds they inhabit are displayed in full 1080p HD for the first time ever.The Miiverse is the Wii U's own built-in social network, which makes connecting with other players fun and easy. Share your gaming secrets, exchange artwork and become involved in the conversations that surround your favorite games, all without leaving your couch.This special bundle includes a stylish The Legend of Zelda-themed GamePad and a download code for The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, which sees the beloved hero Link embark on a seafaring adventure across the oceans of a now-flooded world. Also included is a download code for a digital version of The Hyrule Historia, a detailed encyclopedia of The Legend of Zelda lore, history and concept art.
Customer Rating
5
Very pleased and surprised
on September 28, 2013
Posted by: InfiniteT
from Seattle
Age:35-44
Gender:Male
I have been holding off on the Wii U for a while. Although there has been some good games for it, there was nothing that really made me want to upgrade... Until this special Zelda Edition.
I loved the old Zelda games and played them all up to Majora's Mask. So I misted Wind Waker on the GCN (didnt have one anyway), then picked it back up with Skyward Sward and Twilight Princess. So WW is all new to me and I have enjoyed playing it so far. There are game elements in there from games passed but there are some cool new things as well. This games easily goes well with all the others in story, depth and quality.
The Wii U itself is a nice console. Some poo-poo its muscle, but its specs easily rival an Xbox 360. Having the game pad is a neat feature as well. In WW it can be used as an item/map screen, or you can play the game on the controller with the TV off (or watching something else). I also picked up Nintendo Land when I bought it to have something to play with others. Then the controller becomes a ninja star tosser, a views screen, ghost finder, blow into it to activate fans, and all kinds of unique, crazy fun applications. I REALLY hope 3rd party developers pick up on it and create more games using it's full potential. Nintendo seems to be working overtime to bring some great new titles to it soon. I am actually looking forward to the new DK Country, Mario Kart 8, Wii Play U, Zelda U, Metriod U, Smash Bros. U, etc. One of Nintendo's strong points (since GCN and up) is backwards compatibility, which carries on here. All your old Wii games, Wii Ware, and virtual console stuff will still work!
My only wishes are more good games available now ( I can only imagine what launch was like) and that with this bundle, the WW game and the Hyrule Historia are digital downloads, not hard copies. But the Zelda decorated game pad is a neat touch.
What's great about it: Fun, unique, lots of potential
What's not so great: Wish it was physical copies...
I would recommend this to a friend!
Performance
5
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Stay connected with this HTC One PN07120 mobile phone that features Internet and e-mail capabilities, plus 4G LTE speed for rapid data transfer. The 4.7" touch screen with a real-time color engine offers high-definition visuals and easy navigation.Requires a minimum data service starting at $20/month.Early termination fees will be prorated, starting at $325 minus $10 for each full month of service commitment completed.
Customer Rating
5
Almost perfect.
on June 3, 2013
Posted by: InfiniteT
First off, the hardware on this phone is nothing short of amazing. The all aluminum shell is beautiful and solid but not overly bulky or heavy. Everything is well laid out and very sleek. My only gripe here would be the buttons that are almost perfectly flush, which took some getting used to. This phone is fast, super fast. There is no sign of any lag or stuttering. Pages load very quick and switching between apps is instant. The boom sound feature actually sounds really good considering its coming out of a phone speakers. The screen resolution is insanely clear and colors are true. I have had no issues running any of my apps video, music, everything is smooth as silk. The phone feature works very well and the blue tooth connected effortlessly in my truck and my car. My only small issues I have with this unit is the camera, battery, and non expandable memory. The camera is a meeger 8mp, but has something called giga-pixel. Whatever that really is, I am not overly impressed. It isn't horrible, but I believe that my One x that this replaced took just add good, or better pictures and video. With wifi, bluetooth, NFC, etc all on, on LTE with light use at the end of a 10 hour day battery was 32%. With a little heavier use, I can see the non-swappable battery not lasting a full day and a few hours at happy hour without needing a boost. The memory is fixed at 32gb, no micro Sd, very Apple. Lastly, the blink feed feature is not a widget. It seems fixed to the home screen. I don't use it and didn't find a way to disable it within the first 30 seconds. I loaded up my ADW launcher and had everything the way I wanted in no time. But it would be nice to be able to simply disable it. I do a lot of geocaching but have found that the GPS and compass seem a little weak. I have never seen accuracy better than 9 meters and the compass is almost worthless. All those little things aside, this is an amazing phone that I have no problem calling the best I have used.
I would recommend this to a friend!
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Stay productive on the go with this Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1 tablet that features a WXGA TFT display with S Pen technology for easy sketching, annotation and note-taking. The 16GB storage capacity lets you store music, movies and more.
Customer Rating
5
5 stars for what it is, 4+ for what it could be!
on February 12, 2013
Posted by: InfiniteT
from Seattle
I have had my trusty old Xoom for a few years now. I really love having a computer (tablet) at my bedside that I can surf the web, read, watch tv/movies, play games, use for news, alarms, clock, etc always at the ready.
Recently I had been toying with the idea of an upgrade, when I found an offer I couldnt resist on the Note 10.1, I thought i'd give it a go.
The Note 10.1 seemed quite intriguing with its expanded fuctions that would push the limits of what I had gotten used to using my tablet for.
Compared to the Xoom ( a GREAT tablet for it's day) this thing is lighter, faster, slimmer, and even more useful.
The Note 10.1 seemed quite intriguing with its expanded fuctions that would push the limits of what I had gotten used to using my tablet for.
Compared to the Xoom ( a GREAT tablet for it's day) this thing is lighter, faster, slimmer, and even more useful.
In a way, it is so slim that the edges I find somewhat uncomfortable to grip for long periods. I purchased a silicon Amzer skin that fixed that. The Xoom is HEAVY, but it also feels rock solid. This Note 10.1 is much lighter, but doesnt feel fragile or cheap either, and once skinned, it was much more of a delight to hold.
The Xoom is a pure Google device, the Note is skinned with Touch Wiz, which took a little bit to get accustomed to the changes, but once I did, they werent obtrusive or annoying, in fact, they made things a little more convenient!
The speed on the 1.4GHZ quad core with 2gb of ram over the Xoom's dual core 1ghz and 1gb ram is very evident. Apps launch much quicker, respond quicker and smoother, and games and intensive apps run without a stutter, and multi-tasking? Pfft... a breeze. The default keyboard on the Note is nice too, with the numbers on the main keyboard (apposed to shifting to get numbers).
The built in cameras are a step up, both of them, The front cam makes Google Talk video much more...fun, and the rear cam takes pretty good pictures should you desire to haul something this big around for taking photos at your buddy's wedding or something.
The front firing speakers are nice to see. They aren't amazing by any stretch, but facing forward makes much more sense, and improves volume and overall experience when you lay your tablet on a table or something..... duh?
The front firing speakers are nice to see. They aren't amazing by any stretch, but facing forward makes much more sense, and improves volume and overall experience when you lay your tablet on a table or something..... duh?
Some really cool features that I really enjoy are the multi-"windows". Like a Windows unit, you can have 2 or more "windows" open on one screen. You can, have two (or more) browser windows open at once in a split screen mode, it works with many other apps and utilities you might want too. Say, your banking app and the calc. app at the same time. It wont work with all apps, but with many, and it IS very nice to use. The S-pen seemed a bit like a gimmick to me at first. I mean, a "stylus? That's so.. last century Palm, but its improved functionality makes it actually a useful tool, and I find myself using it more and more as I figure out different things it does.
The Wifi on this thing is super fast, with any of my other devices right next to it (Xoom, iP touch 4th gen, One X, SG Note 1, Atrix 4g, this things WiFi is consistently 30%+ faster). The graphical performance even bests my OneX.
The only cons I find with this device are:
Proprietary charging/dock port. Samsung has opted to use a very Apple like (and looking) 30 pin connector. This connector connects the cable for charging/data transfer. If you want to use HDMI out, USB host, USB OTG and such, you need to buy additional adapters. This eliminates having a zillion ports all over your tab, but also forces you in an "apple like" way to purchase all kinds of wacky adapters to connect various things in addition,
Proprietary charging/dock port. Samsung has opted to use a very Apple like (and looking) 30 pin connector. This connector connects the cable for charging/data transfer. If you want to use HDMI out, USB host, USB OTG and such, you need to buy additional adapters. This eliminates having a zillion ports all over your tab, but also forces you in an "apple like" way to purchase all kinds of wacky adapters to connect various things in addition,
I have also found the bluetooth a bit finicky. When I paired it to my old Xoom (now hand-me-down to my wife). Connecting via bluetooth to send files from one to the other was a bit touch and go. Sometimes it worked instantly, other times it took a few minutes of messing around to get it to connect right.
The biggest downer of the Note 10.1 is the screen resolution. The 1280 x 800 screen is the SAME as my nearly 2 year old Xoom! I mean PPI isnt everything. But it really would be nice if Samsung (who is known for amazing displays) would have chosen to use a bit higher resolution screen. Although it is a very nice looking display, the lower resolution DOES noticably detract from the "high end" feel of this tablet. It has me wondering what Samsung was thinking! Is it enough for me to ditch it for something with a better display? I don't know, i guess I have 3 more weeks to decide that.
In the end. This is an AMAZING tablet. My room mate with his latest gen iPad, is very jealous and wishes he could switch. The speed is on par but the features and "open-ness" of Android has him dreaming. But I also secretly covet his Retina display.
I have no doubt this tablet is superior in features, functionality, and quality. It is a very worthy upgrade from the old trusty Xoom and I look forward to a few more years of delightfully heavy use from this Note.
Hopefully Samsung will discover they are ahead of Apple and dont need t follow their example of a "one size fits all" connector, and doesn't continue to shy away from putting their best displays in their flagship products.
Hopefully Samsung will discover they are ahead of Apple and dont need t follow their example of a "one size fits all" connector, and doesn't continue to shy away from putting their best displays in their flagship products.
If you want the best in speed, quality, features, fun and productivity, the Note 10.1 is unmatched, If you want a "media toy" check out the Galaxy Tab2 10.1 or the dazzling display on the Nexus 10!
What's great about it: FAST, full featured, quality, oh..and FAST!
What's not so great: Screen resolution could be better...
I would recommend this to a friend!
Ease of Use
5
Features
5
Share this review:
+35points
37of 39voted this as helpful.
InfiniteT's Review Comments
NETGEAR Universal Wi-Fi Range Extender: Improve the network coverage throughout your home with this universal Wi-Fi range extender. Connect your gaming console, Smart TV, Blu-ray player and more with the four convenient Ethernet ports, for an expansive wired network the whole family can enjoy.
Overall
2 out of 5
2 out of 5Extended Range, sort of, but cause some issues
By InfiniteT
from Seattle
In short, I have a Dlink DIR 655 down in my office on the other side of the house. It does fine down in that corner of the house but over time we have added a bunch of various wifi conected devices (tablets, phones, ipods, etc) and on the farther ends and the upstairs of the house the signal would get week and slow.
I did a bunch of reading on the best way to extend the network signal accross to the other reaches of the house and even outside a bit. I have hard wired cat6 in the house but with a lot of little wireless devices I still need a strong wifi.
I wasnt sure about this extender idea since it basically creates a wifi network of its own that then wirelessly repeats back to the router. I thought it may slow things down. I was right. It did slow things down enough to that even a strong signal thru the repeater was slower than the weak signal from the router on the other side of the house. (Yes the repeater had a good signal to the router).
An even bigger deal is that it seems to isolate each wireless device you connect to it from others. By this i mean, even though the wireless connected device is connected and sharing the main connection to the outside internet, they dont see eachother. So all my little wireless devices can no longer stream music and video from the hardwired computers and NASes.. Something we do here alot.
I am no netwrok engieneer or anything but I know my way around computers/electronics and tech stuff.
So even though this did essensially exapand my wireless connectivity, the benifits are not worth it to me for what I lose. Since the speed of the weak signal from the source router is still faster than a strong signal from the repeater, this makes the repeater pointless to me.
InfiniteT
Seattle
Thanks for the offer but...
June 27, 2011
I returned the product just a few days after purchase. I bought a second DIR655 and set it us as a WAP. It works great and its speed is just as fast as the master router. I consistantly get 19-22Mbits down and 3.5-4 Mbits up. That range extender ran about 4-6Mbits down and around 750Kbits up. Just plain slow.
With just the master router and before adding the new one, on the far side of the house, with "low" signal, I was getting 9-11Mbits down and ~1.4 up. So you see a weak signal from the router was still much faster than a full signal from the extender.
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
MOTOROLA XOOM has a super-powerful dual-core processor and Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) -- the Android platform designed specifically for tablets. With its 10.1-inch HD widescreen display, you'll enjoy HD video in a thin, light, and powerful tablet. Motorola XOOM 00001NARGNLX 32 GB Tablet - Refurbished - Wi-Fi - Black
Overall5 out of 5
5 out of 5The winner, ALMOST perfect. 4 1/2 stars?
By InfiniteT
from Seattle
I have tested each of the most popular Honeycomb Tablets ( Transformer, Iconia A500, and the Xoom) for about a week, and for me, the Xoom takes its place on the winners stand on my nightstand.
Here is why.
After testing the others, I found the Xoom to have the most solid, quality construction. The anodized aluminum casing feels top quality. Everything fits together tightly, there is no creaking, wobbling or flexing. The glass is smooth and allows for seamless screen gestures. The Iconia came in a close second for design quality and felt very solid too. It has a similar brushed aluminum back. But the top and bottom are a plastic bezel that wraps to the screen. The Transformer's plastic back did have some flex to it and just felt kind of "cheap" compared to the others. The "glass" of the TF felt thin and "sticky". Your fingers didnt glide over it very well and pressing the screen lightly, you could feel it flex as well.
Winner: Xoom
The display is razor sharp and crisp. Text is sharp and easy to read, pictures, videos, and web pages look top notch. The Iconia sceen looked very nice too. Its screen was even more "vibrant" than the xoom. However the dot pitch (space between pixels) was visible at close look and text was not as crisp. The Iconia only displays 256k colors (compared to the 16 million of the others) and I was able to notice the difference on colorful, high res photos. The TF was a good blend of both, vibrant and crisp. But the two I tested had HORRIBLE back light bleeding on dark images. Something the Iconia and Xoom didn't have.
Winner: Xoom
Each offers their own feature set. The Iconia has a full sized USB port and it worked well for keyboards, mice and a flash drive (FAT 32). The Xoom has an adapter cable that adapts the microUSB to a full sized USB and allows digital cameras, keyboards, mice etc. to be plugged in. The TF only allows USB connections if you have the keyboard dock ($150), its microUSB slot only seemed to work for PC hookup. They all have microHDMI outputs, mircoSD, blue tooth, wifi, and are dockable. The Transformer has a dock that is an actual keyboard that also adds 2 full sized USB, card readers and additional battery power. A cool feature if you ever want to turn your tablet into an "Android netbook". Its is an additional $150 as I mentioned. Since I am going to use my tablet as a tablet, the keyboard dock is not practical for me. So just as tablets, the Iconia and Xoom offer more. Another small feature of the Iconia is Dolby sound, which actually was a nice touch and sounded great coming out of those little speakers. The speakers on the Xoom sound decent for a tablet, nothing amazing though and only moderate volume. The TF's speakers souded dreadful. They sounded super cheap. The left speaker was louder than the right and they sounded tinny and weak.
Winner: Iconia (by a little)
Function: All these units pretty much offer a stock Google UI. I must say, am used to Android (i have had 2 Android phones) and Honeycomb is a great OS. Very slick and gets better as the kinks get ironed out. That said, the actual experience of this did actually differ a bit. The Xoom and Iconia were very smooth. Gestures registered instantly and the tablet responded fluently. The TF had the same smoothness, but the action actually seemed to lag behind the actual guesture by a split second. All of them performed well, none of them gave me any issues with unexpected crashes, hangs or force closes. However, overall speed, fluidity and just general user experience seemed to be a bit higher on the Iconia and Xoom. Something that is hard to explain unless you spend some time with each of them. I will note however that the Transformer had issues with powering itself on/off randomly, which is a known issue with some of the TF tablets. Also the Iconia had a tendency for the screen to momentarily come on on its own as well. That is, when "sleeping" it would come on and show the lock screen un provoked. It would shut off again after 30 seconds or so, but was a little disturbing at 3am. The Xoom has none of these issues.
Winner: Xoom
Accessories: Part of owning a gadget like this is being able to accessorize it to tailor to your specific usage. The Asus unit itself is currently hard to come buy, in most cases it must be special ordered from your big box stores. It is still unlikely (6/9/11) to walk into a store an buy one and walk out with it. The same can be said for the keyboard dock. I am unaware of any other device specific accessories for it at this time except "skin cases" and carry cases. The Iconia has a folio type case that is available now. It has provisions for a docking station (w/remote) and blue tooth keyboard. But as of this writing those are not available yet. There are also a few 3rd party skins and cases for it as well. The Xoom has been available longer and has quite a few different accessories that are quite good. The charging dock and blue tooth keyboard although a bit on the expensive side, are very good. On the other hand the official folio case, official skin, and the HD dock leave a bit to be desired. There are also quite a few 3rd party goodies available at various price points too.
Winner: Xoom
Winner: Xoom
Parting thoughts: Overall, all these tablets were good additions to the tablet world, each offering their own advantages and disadvantages over each other. For the price of the Asus, you do loose a bit of that quality and Asus quality control on them seems to have been a bit lacking. There seems to be all matter of various issues both common and random being reported with them. The Iconia seems to be a well made, well thought out tablet. If the screen had better pixel density and better colors, i think it would have been the winner. The Xoom just seemed to offer the highest quality construction, and the perfect amount of features, accessories, functionality and overall user experience. The one hangup I have is the microSD. That feature works just fine with the Asus and the Iconia. The hacker/Devs at XDA even figured out how to get it working on the Xoom, why the heck cant Motorola?? I sure hope they get that figured out...they've had 3+ months already! With more and more good Android tablets arriving it wouldn't hurt if Moto dropped the price on the Xoom $50 or so either. (In the next 20 days would be nice so I can take advantage of Best Buy's price match).
So, the Xoom is the winner, for now.
InfiniteT
Seattle
Update!
July 17, 2011
Well, the Xoom just recieved Android 3.2 and it enables the SDcard and has a feature cammed zoom that enables most of the phone apps and games to run quite well on the tablet! With the $100 price drop and the recent update makes this baby a solid 5 stars!
+2points
2of 2voted this comment as helpful.
MOTOROLA XOOM has a super-powerful dual-core processor and Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) -- the Android platform designed specifically for tablets. With its 10.1-inch HD widescreen display, you'll enjoy HD video in a thin, light, and powerful tablet. Motorola XOOM 00001NARGNLX 32 GB Tablet - Refurbished - Wi-Fi - Black
Overall
3 out of 5
3 out of 5Not so good as advertised
By Jesito
from San Diego, CA
Cons.
- It is heavy to hold for a while, like reading a book, or watching a movie.
- It comes with a Movie Studio (the one in the advertise video that mocks apple) which sucks because THE VIDEOS YOU RECORDED WITH XOOM ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE PROGRAM, you need to download to a computer and convert to another format then upload to device and you can edit them.
- DOESN'T COMES WITH CHROME browser... the "browser" pre-installed, SUCKS, you can download firefox but you won't get the flash plugin for it, so, you have to navigate some pages with "the browser" and others with firefox or any other you install.
- Mine had 3 books pre-installed which NONE was able to open, so had to delete them, and download kindle app to read "other" books.
- No Notes or something to write built in... I had to download some apps for that.
- Once you start filling the disk with apps, vids, pics, music, etc, slow down the device a lot, while passing from one page to another or returning to main screen, etc.
- Crashes a lot. Even apps that are supposed made for honeycomb crash very often, you're in the middle of a game or reading news and crashes. Sometimes you have to restart the device because it doesn't respond.
- You have to download software to manage your files.
- Music app sucks... you better get another player app.
- It is heavy to hold for a while, like reading a book, or watching a movie.
- It comes with a Movie Studio (the one in the advertise video that mocks apple) which sucks because THE VIDEOS YOU RECORDED WITH XOOM ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE PROGRAM, you need to download to a computer and convert to another format then upload to device and you can edit them.
- DOESN'T COMES WITH CHROME browser... the "browser" pre-installed, SUCKS, you can download firefox but you won't get the flash plugin for it, so, you have to navigate some pages with "the browser" and others with firefox or any other you install.
- Mine had 3 books pre-installed which NONE was able to open, so had to delete them, and download kindle app to read "other" books.
- No Notes or something to write built in... I had to download some apps for that.
- Once you start filling the disk with apps, vids, pics, music, etc, slow down the device a lot, while passing from one page to another or returning to main screen, etc.
- Crashes a lot. Even apps that are supposed made for honeycomb crash very often, you're in the middle of a game or reading news and crashes. Sometimes you have to restart the device because it doesn't respond.
- You have to download software to manage your files.
- Music app sucks... you better get another player app.
Pros
- Very nice resolution. HD videos looks awesome, videos and pictures taken with camera look great.
- It now costs $499.00 (which sucks for me because I paid $599 one month ago).
- Very nice resolution. HD videos looks awesome, videos and pictures taken with camera look great.
- It now costs $499.00 (which sucks for me because I paid $599 one month ago).
I'll stay with android instead of apple, I have an iPhone for 3years now and I like the app store, wish android market can be that nice one day. I just don't like how apple is treating their customers that's why I decided not to buy the ipad... but PLEASE google give us a good platform.
InfiniteT
Seattle
Android 3.2
July 24, 2011
Android 3.2 has just gone out for the WiFi Xoom and activates the SDcard AND has a new feature that allows MOST "Non-Tablet" Android Apps to work on the tablet... awesome! If you are still within your 30 day period go back to Best Buy and get a price match done.. I did and got 100 back!
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
MOTOROLA XOOM has a super-powerful dual-core processor and Android 3.0 (Honeycomb) -- the Android platform designed specifically for tablets. With its 10.1-inch HD widescreen display, you'll enjoy HD video in a thin, light, and powerful tablet. Motorola XOOM 00001NARGNLX 32 GB Tablet - Refurbished - Wi-Fi - Black
Overall
1 out of 5
1 out of 5HORRIBLE VIDEO CHAT SOFTWARE!!!
By Funsterville
from Chicago, IL
Xoom would be by far "THE BEST" tablet ever if the video chat software was better created. Skype video chat is non existant and Yahoo Messenger/Yahoo Messenger Video Chat is non existant. The ONLY way to do a video chat is with Google Talk.
InfiniteT
Seattle
Tango Works good too.
July 24, 2011
Seems pretty lame to rate a piece of hardware 1 star based on the fact that you are unhappy with the pre-installed software and cant seem to use the maket place to download a different free app that works quite well.
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Use this Klipsch ProMedia 3-piece speaker system to enjoy brilliant sound when playing games, listening to music or watching videos on your computer.
Overall1 out of 5
1 out of 5Poor quaility.
By 808SMT
from Aiea,HI
After only these speakers for 9 months they have stopped working.
InfiniteT
Seattle
Yea, must have been a fluke
December 4, 2011
My wife has a set I bought over 8 years ago, they work and sound great. I just bought another set for myself to replake some Makos that just crapped out (after only two years) and for LESS THAN HALF the price of the Makos, these are amazing!
+1point
1of 1voted this comment as helpful.
Canon EOS Rebel T3i DSLR Camera with 18–55mm Lens: Capture your next masterpiece with this Canon Rebel T3i, an easy-to-use compact DSLR that boasts plenty of features. The DIGIC 4 Image Processor and 18.0-megapixel CMOS Image Sensor provide optimal performance for superb still shots, while Full HD recording delivers incredible performance when shooting video. No matter your experience with DSLR cameras, the multitude of features and ease of operation gives you more creative options.Memory card sold separately.
Overall4 out of 5
4 out of 5Awesome camera!
By Kbro
I use this camera for filming and love it! Amazing quality!! Loooove that the view finder moves all around! Only thing I don't like is it doesn't autofocus - but I knew that when I bought it.
InfiniteT
Seattle
Autofocus
August 20, 2014
This camera most CERTAINLY DOES support auto-focus as long as you have a lens (the one that comes with it does) does and it is turned on on the lens and camera. Perhaps you were referring to zoom?
0points
0of 0voted this comment as helpful.
InfiniteT's Questions
InfiniteT has not submitted any questions.
InfiniteT's Answers
Use this Klipsch ProMedia 3-piece speaker system to enjoy brilliant sound when playing games, listening to music or watching videos on your computer.
Is this product THX certified ((Klipsch - ProMedia 2.1 Speaker System (3-Piece) - Black))?
Yes, they are! The Klipsch logo on the front of the speakers even has the THX logo right next to it.
9 years, 4 months ago
by
InfiniteT
Seattle
what size speakers do i need for a 2000 dodge intrepid
what size speakers do i need for a 2000 dodge intrepid
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=what+size+speakers+are+in+2000+dodge+intrepid
13 years, 8 months ago
by
InfiniteT
Seattle
WHAT SIZE SPEAKER IN DOOR AND IN BACK SEAT?
CAN I MIXED UP THE BRANK NAMES OF THE SPEAKERS?
Can you mix the brand names of your speakers?
Well yes. Most of the time, new speakers are sold in pairs anyway. So say you had a pair of Pioneers in the front of your car and a pair of Infiniti's in the back, that is perfectly fine.
Now say you had a Pioneer in the left front door, and an Infiniti in the right front door. Since the speakers are most likely constructed differently and with different drivers, your sound would probably sound a little unballanced. Keep em in pairs and youll be fine.
Well yes. Most of the time, new speakers are sold in pairs anyway. So say you had a pair of Pioneers in the front of your car and a pair of Infiniti's in the back, that is perfectly fine.
Now say you had a Pioneer in the left front door, and an Infiniti in the right front door. Since the speakers are most likely constructed differently and with different drivers, your sound would probably sound a little unballanced. Keep em in pairs and youll be fine.
14 years, 2 months ago
by
InfiniteT
Seattle